Hackers' attack cripples Vatican web site
March 07, 2012
The Vatican web site crashed on March 7, under a systematic attack by hackers allied with the “Anonymous” collaborative.
Anonymous, a shadowy group that has created online havoc, singling out particular institutions for attack, issued a statement saying that it had chosen to attack the Vatican to penalize “the corrupt Roman Catholic Church and all of its emanations.”
"Today, Anonymous has decided to put your site under siege in response to your doctrine, liturgy and the absurd and anachronistic rules that your profit-making organization spreads around the world," the group said. In a longer statement released on Italian web sites, Anonymous denounced Church teachings on abortion and contraception and called attention to the sex-abuse scandal.
Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, confirmed that the Vatican site had been disabled. He was unable to say how much time technicians would need to repair the site.
The attack by Anonymous occurred just over a week after a report that the same hackers’ group had mounted a previous attack on the Vatican web site last August, but failed to cause a crash.
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Further information:
- Anonymous brings down Vatican website (ANSA)
- Hacking group Anonymous claims to bring down Vatican website (AP)
- Hackers group Anonymous take down Vatican website (Reuters)
- Hackers' attack on Vatican web site foiled (CWN, 2/27)
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Posted by: demark8616 -
Mar. 09, 2012 1:23 AM ET USA
"What we are seeing is a dramatic rise in anti Catholic and anti Christian bias on a world scale" (quote Justin8110) We have always been in contradiction to the world (see The Prophecy of Simeon for details) BUT I agree here with you, that there appears to be a dramatic rise which will end who knows where...time to pull out our weapons (Prayer and especially The Rosary) and fight the good fight. Thanks always to go to sites like this one, who keep us informed.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Mar. 08, 2012 11:39 AM ET USA
Creepy and reeking of diabolic interference. It sounds silly, but if I were the Bishop of Rome, I would have exorcists praying around their server.
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Posted by: Justin8110 -
Mar. 07, 2012 8:21 PM ET USA
What we are seeing is a dramatic rise in anti Catholic and anti Christian bias on a world scale. I would get serious about my prayer life I I were you folks, as a violent persecution is probably not very far off. These enemies of God will try to destroy us to assuage their own guilty and corrupt consciences. There are rough times ahead and many of us may be asked to give our lives for the Faith.
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Posted by: demark8616 -
Mar. 07, 2012 7:21 PM ET USA
Cowards Anonymous? These subterranean nobodies are only proving how powerless they really are, and know they are, if they came out into the open forum and fought fair. "...decided to put your site under siege.." - Oh my, we've gone back to the Dark Ages: "Quick men, rally, man the forts and stoke the fires to ready the burning pitch to repel the invaders" In this instance, 'The Invaders' are invisible! Hardly a glorious victory.
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Posted by: Peter -
Mar. 07, 2012 7:17 PM ET USA
To paraphrase the Master: Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up. Let's hope it will be "raised up" in less than three days. However, three days is nothing compared to 2000 years.
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Posted by: TheAntiModernist -
Mar. 07, 2012 7:02 PM ET USA
Consequently, the feeble attempt to punish the Vatican and believers will be for nothing because we are not a faith that is based on the internet or merely on social media but have works in books and faith is spread by preaching and living. This will amount to a minor incovenience by a group of people who are intolerant of opposing views and will be, if they are lucky, a footnote in annals of history, while the Church will still continue.
